That was the message more than 50 supporters and dignitaries braved driving wind and rain to hear on Monday at the construction site of the Lightbox on Victoria Way. At the “topping-out ceremony” — an event traditionally celebrated to mark the completion of the highest point of a building — visitors were given tours of the building and heard from the people behind the project. In what will be the first-floor history gallery when this ambitious project is completed in May, visitors heard from the Mayor of Woking, Cllr John Kingsbury and Lightbox architect Julia Barfield, as well as project leaders and sponsors. John Durtnell from the construction firm R Durtnell and Sons, the company building the Lightbox, opened proceedings. He asked those present to remember the people behind the scenes who have made the construction project possible, from the men operating the two massive cranes towering over the site, to the steel workers producing the giant girders forming its framework. Roger Umney, who said it had been his “pleasure and privilege” being chairman of the Lightbox project during the past three years, thanked the bodies that had provided the funding for this £6 million project. Among these were Woking Borough Council, which stumped up £3.5m, the Lottery Heritage Fund, which provided £1.6m, the Arts Council for England, which provided £270,000 and Surrey County Council’s local committee for Woking, which donated £25,000. Sheena Vick, the Lottery Heritage Fund’s manager for the south east of England, spoke about the importance of projects such as the Lightbox and congratulated the team for the swift progress of the building work. The mayor spoke of his pleasure in seeing the building take shape and said the Lightbox had been on the lips of Woking residents for many years. He said: “May I remind you that when completed, it will showcase the only collection relating to Woking’s fascinating past, comprising more than 1,000 pieces not previously displayed. “Let us wish everyone success in achieving completion and producing in Woking a gallery and museum that will be the envy of the county and south east England and of which we can be justly proud.” He said with “good fortune and a fair wind” the building would be opened during his mayoral year and added he was particularly looking forward to the grand opening. Marilyn Scott, director of the Lightbox, said that once completed, the gallery would “change the face of Woking” . She thanked the project’s sponsors and the building’s award-winning architects Julia Barfield and David Marks, the team responsible for the London Eye. She added: “Today is the result of 13 years of dreams, hopes and determination for many Woking people. “They took the project to their hearts and I am very pleased to see so many of them here today.” Julia Barfield, who is responsible for the design of the building that will incorporate gold and silver cladding and glass to create a landmark on the Woking skyline, said she hoped the Lightbox would be “something the people of Woking could delight in”. She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be here today. “I was so excited to walk up that staircase for the first time.” The ambition of the project and the “unique combination” of community and cultural projects were what attracted her to the Lightbox scheme. She said that her design using gold and silver would forward the idea that the building would be a “cultural treasure box” for the whole community. She added: “The fact that so many people have come out to the Lightbox on this dreadful day shows how much community spirit there is for this project. “I think it is absolutely terrific and the opening next May is going to be amazing.” For further details, visit the project’s website at www.thelightbox.org.uk .